“So Many Options”
As national vice president of technology and innovation for EXIT Realty, it’s Jeff Lobb’s job to stay on top of the latest tools, including apps. “The most overwhelming part for most [real estate professionals] is they don’t have the time to look at them all,” he says.
He suggests concentrating on app categories that bring the functionality of working at a desk into the field. Favorites include Evernote for gathering and organizing all kinds of information; Log Me In Ignition for connecting to his primary PC from his smartphone or tablet; and the Pixeet 360 lens/app bundle for creating immersive tours with an iPad.
“Always try the free, lite version of an app first,” he offers as general advice. “You want to see if it’s engaging and has features you will use. Then you can decide if it’s something worth paying for.”
“Essential Productivity”
“Think about all you do at your desk, and how you can replicate that in the field,” advises Angela Harkins, broker-owner of Angela Harkins & Associates Real Estate in Westford, Mass. “What must you have with you, and which apps will allow you to do that?”
She’s shared her iPad knowledge and enthusiasm for an array of apps with real estate professionals in several classes. “Many apps you might not think of as real estate programs are really essential for mobile productivity,” she says. Examples of what she’s using include DropBox, Sign My Pad, Keynote, and PDF Expert.
“The best thing you can do to find the most useful apps is talk to other real estate professionals about what they are using, and what works,” Harkins suggests. “With technology, people are always happy to share what they’ve learned.”
“Worth The Wait”
When it comes to apps, Steven Wayne, CRS, managing broker with Windermere NorthWest/Seattle, follows the same strategy that serves him well with computers and digital cameras. “I don’t have to be the first one with the latest thing,” Wayne explains. “I’ll wait at least six months after an app has been released before I’ll load anything new. By then I know they’ve fixed any problems.”
Those apps are loaded on the Droid X he’s been carrying since upgrading from a Treo last year. “I was looking the easiest way to migrate the data from my Palm to a new smartphone and Android seemed to have the best answers,” he says. He now relies on a combination of apps, including B-Folders for retrieving and backing up critical data and Business Calendar for managing his busy schedule. Recently, Wayne added the Avast security app. “These phones can be hacked, and I want to do whatever I can to protect against that,” he explains.